ceasen.
/siːs/, U.S. /sis/ 1. = ceasing n., cessation n. Obsolete except in the still occasional without cease, without end, incessantly. (Cf. French sans cesse.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > continually (in action) [phrase]
night and dayeOE
day and nightOE
without(en) blina1300
morning, noon, and nightc1325
but stintc1330
by and byc1330
early and latec1330
without ceasec1330
without ceasinga1340
withouten hoc1374
without releasec1400
still opece1422
in a ranec1480
never ceasable?1518
without remorse1555
every foot (and anon)1561
round1652
year in and year out1819
twenty-four hours a day1914
the world > action or operation > ceasing > [noun]
lissc1000
ceasec1330
stintc1330
stinting1338
ceasinga1340
discontinuancea1398
cessationa1400
leaving-off?a1425
surceasingc1435
disusage1475
stop1483
staying1546
discontinuation1572
discontinuing1582
surcease1590
stintance1605
cessure1607
desisting1607
avocationa1617
desistance1632
sistencea1639
surceasementa1641
supersession1648
dispractice1673
breaking-off1683
estoppage1701
cess1703
cesser1809
shutdown1857
stoppage1865
shut-off1889
sign-off1919
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > lasting quality, permanence > [adverb] > without cessation
fastlyOE
without ceasec1330
without ceasinga1340
unceasinglyc1340
incessably1398
dreichlyc1400
restlessc1400
perpetuallyc1475
incessantly1481
uncessantlya1500
incessant1558
ceaselessly?1606
indesinently1651
jugially1654
unintermissively1656
upon or on a stretch1689
at one or a stretch1774
unabatingly1793
at the stretch1867
never-ceasingly1869
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 3188 Of swiche bataile nas no ses To the night fram arnemorwe.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 15893 Þen com þe folk wyþouten sesse Aboute Brian for to presse.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xvi. 64 The other he made to watche without ceasse.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. H7v They brought the world into a woonderfull perplexitie and cease.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iii. 15 The cesse of Maiestie Dies not alone. View more context for this quotation
1662 R. Mathews Unlearned Alchymist (new ed.) §99. 163 Which instantly hath caused cease of pain.
1798 Log Vanguard 2 Aug. in Ld. Nelson Dispatches & Lett. (1845) III. 54 55 minutes past 2, a total cease of firing.
1877 E. R. Conder Basis of Faith ii. 65 We..think of space as..extending without cease in all directions.
1880 A. Mitchell What is Civilisation 183 It is without cease and everywhere undergoing change.
2. Military. = ceasefire n. 1.
ΚΠ
1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 87 The fire is continued until the bugle sounds the Cease.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ceasev.
/siːs/, U.S. /sis/ I. Intransitive.† 2. = Cease from action: to rest, take rest, be or remain at rest. Obsolete. Cf. ceasing n.† 4. = Cease to exist: to come to an end, fail, become extinct, pass away. Obsolete.
1.
a. Of persons and other agents: To stop, give over, discontinue, desist (from, formerly of, an action); to come to the end or to an intermission of a state or condition of ‘being, doing, or suffering’. Formerly, cease off was used, like leave off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)]
i-swikec893
swikec897
atwindc1000
linOE
studegieOE
stintc1175
letc1200
stuttea1225
leavec1225
astint1250
doc1300
finec1300
blina1325
cease1330
stable1377
resta1382
ho1390
to say or cry ho1390
resta1398
astartc1400
discontinuec1425
surcease1428
to let offc1450
resista1475
finish1490
to lay a straw?a1505
to give over1526
succease1551
to put (also pack) up one's pipes1556
end1557
to stay (one's own or another's) hand1560
stick1574
stay1576
to draw bridle1577
to draw rein1577
to set down one's rest1589
overgive1592
absist1614
subsista1639
beholdc1650
unbridle1653
to knock offa1657
acquiesce1659
to set (up) one's rest1663
sista1676
stop1689
to draw rein1725
subside1734
remit1765
to let up1787
to wind (up) one's pirna1835
to cry crack1888
to shut off1896
to pack in1906
to close down1921
to pack up1925
to sign off1929
1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 316 Þe kyng..teld his barons how, þat nede behoued him ses.
c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. 10 Þat we sesse of all vyces.
138. J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 302 Bi þis amortysyng þei wolen nevere cesse.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1017 Þe Sarsyns fleȝe & noȝt ne sest.
14.. Polit. Rel. & Love Poems (1903) 137 Of þi seruyse oft hafe I seste.
c1440 York Myst. xxii. 155 Sees of thy sawes, þou Sathanas.
1509 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. (1876) i. 59 He..neuer seaseth tyll it comes vnto the hyest parte of the soule.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. xlvi Cease of your Foly.
?1572 R. Sempill Premonitioun Barnis of Leith (single sheet) God will haue his will but mair Fulfillit or he sace.
1611 Bible (King James) Jonah i. 15 The sea ceased from her raging. View more context for this quotation
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxviii. 165 Are either Enemies, or else they have ceased from being so.
1768 T. Gray Fatal Sisters in Poems 83 Sisters, cease, the work is done.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters: Choric Song ii, in Poems (new ed.) 112 Fold our wings, And cease from wanderings.
b. Const. infinitive with to.
ΚΠ
138. J. Wyclif Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 139 Þei wolen not..ceesse to anoye hem silf in bilding of hye housis.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. lviijv/1 They seaced not to fyght.
1584 R. Greene Arbasto 6 Ceasse off to enquire farther in the case.
1712 A. Pope tr. Ovid Sapho to Phaon in tr. Ovid Epist. (ed. 8) 20 I'll..either cease to live, or cease to love!
1876 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People (1882) iii. §2. 120 An excommunicate king had ceased to be a Christian.
c. with present participle expressing the action, after late Latin cessare agens, used in the Vulgate in imitation of the construction of Greek παύομαι. This construction coincides in form with 6b, which see.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of things, actions, or processes > cease to be active (of things)
cease1382
to shut down1945
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Josh. xiv. 15 The loond ceesside fro bataylis.
1483 Vulgaria abs Terencio (T. Rood & T. Hunte) sig. ov Thow sesyste no tyme nor takist no hede to thy selfe.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid viii. i. 59 The nycht come, and all thing levand seisst.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras xv. 22 My swerde shal not ceasse ouer them, that shed the innocent bloude.
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. viii. 100 Matter..will cease if none move it.
3. Of actions, feelings, phenomena, etc.: To come to an end, be at an end. Formerly often conjugated with the auxiliary be; but some of the examples may be rather passive of 5, 6, or 7.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of things, actions, or processes
restOE
leathc1275
stintc1275
slakea1300
ceasec1374
slocka1400
batec1400
lissec1400
stanchc1420
surcease1439
remain1480
stopa1529
break1530
decease1538
falla1555
to shut up1609
subside1654
drop1697
low1790
to go out1850
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 434 But cesyd cause, aie cecith malady.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6032 Prai for me now, moyses, þi lauerd to do þis thoner ses.
1413 J. Lydgate Pilgr. of Sowle (1859) ii. xli. 46 Now is al theyr noious labour secyd.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxxxiv[v]. 3 O God oure Sauioure..let thine anger ceasse from vs.
1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxv. f. 55 The pesecution of chrysten men beinge but late cessed.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) i. i. 68 It must be so: for Miracles are ceast . View more context for this quotation
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. ii. x. f. 77 The modest murmure of the Assistants was ceased.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) II. 418 The tomb of his adversary will cease to be honoured.
1819 Monthly Mag. 48 30 The noise was ceas'd Of all the angelic ring.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xiv. 211 The influx of Germans on the Rhine must cease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > come to an end [verb (intransitive)]
finea1300
cease1382
fall1523
to break up1544
to blow off1633
subside1654
peter1846
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > be non-existent [verb (intransitive)] > end or cease to exist
tirec725
endOE
forfareOE
goc1175
fleec1200
to wend awayc1225
diea1240
to-melta1240
to pass awaya1325
flit1340
perishc1350
vanisha1375
decorre1377
cease1382
dispend1393
failc1400
overshakec1425
surcease1439
adrawc1450
fall1523
decease1538
define1562
fleet1576
expire1595
evanish1597
extinguish1599
extirp1606
disappear1623
evaporatea1631
trans-shift1648
annihilate1656
exolve1657
cancela1667
to pass off1699
to burn out, forth1832
spark1845
to die out1853
to come, go, etc. by the board1859
sputter1964
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxxiv. 25 I shal make for to ceese the werst beestis fro the erthe.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 189 All moral vertu ceseth.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 865/2 Concerning the high constables of England, which office ceassed and tooke end at the duke of Buckingham.
1611 Bible (King James) Deut. xv. 11 The poore shall neuer cease out of the land. View more context for this quotation
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes i. 20 When this Priesthood ceased, the Law..must cease also.
II. Transitive.† 5. To put a stop to (the action of others, a state or condition of things), to stop. Obsolete.† 7. To cause (an agent) to leave off (of an action); to appease, bring to rest, quiet. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > cause to cease or put a stop to
astintc700
stathea1200
atstuntc1220
to put an end toa1300
to set end ofa1300
batec1300
stanch1338
stinta1350
to put awayc1350
arrestc1374
finisha1375
terminec1390
achievea1393
cease1393
removec1405
terminate?a1425
stop1426
surceasec1435
resta1450
discontinue1474
adetermine1483
blina1500
stay1525
abrogatea1529
suppressa1538
to set in or at stay1538
to make stay of1572
depart1579
check1581
intercept1581
to give a stop toa1586
dirempt1587
date1589
period1595
astayc1600
nip1600
to break off1607
snape1631
sist1635
to make (a) stop of1638
supersede1643
assopiatea1649
periodizea1657
unbusya1657
to put a stop to1679
to give the holla to1681
to run down1697
cessate1701
end1737
to choke off1818
stopper1821
punctuate1825
to put a stopper on1828
to take off ——1845
still1850
to put the lid on1873
on the fritz1900
to close down1903
to put the fritz on something1910
to put the bee on1918
switch1921
to blow the whistle on1934
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 9 Thus was cessed the debate Of love.
c1399 in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1859) II. 6 He myghte oure dedly werre cesse.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xlv. l. 265 Sese this tempest And this Torment That we ben now Inne, lord.
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1300/2 The Pharisies woulde haue had hym ceace ye voice of the people hymself.
1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke i. xxxix. 49 Sapa..doth cease the pain much more then sweete wine.
1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn iii, in Poems 3 He her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyd Peace.
1691 E. Taylor tr. Behmen Threefold Life xviii. 313 A dead man's sence is ceased.
6.
a. To leave off, discontinue (one's own action; formerly also, one's anger or other passions).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)]
aswikec975
linOE
beleavec1175
forletc1175
i-swikec1175
restc1175
stutte?c1225
lina1300
blinc1314
to give overc1325
to do wayc1350
stintc1366
finisha1375
leavea1375
yleavec1380
to leave offa1382
refuse1389
ceasec1410
resigna1413
respite?a1439
relinquish1454
surcease1464
discontinue1474
unfill1486
supersede1499
desist1509
to have ado?1515
stop1525
to lay aside1530
stay1538
quata1614
to lay away1628
sist1635
quita1642
to throw up1645
to lay by1709
to come off1715
unbuckle1736
peter1753
to knock off1767
stash1794
estop1796
stow1806
cheese1811
to chuck itc1879
douse1887
nark1889
to stop off1891
stay1894
sling1902
can1906
to lay off1908
to pack in1934
to pack up1934
to turn in1938
to break down1941
to tie a can to (or on)1942
to jack in1948
to wrap it up1949
c1410 Sir Cleges 297 Sese your angrye mode!
1528 Impeachm. Wolsey in F. J. Furnivall Ballads from MSS (1868) I. 357 Seas thyne insaciat covetous mynde.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. 4 a God of his mercie was willing to ceasse his wrath and vengeaunce.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. True Hist. Siege Ostend 199 Whereby he might be constrayned..to cease the dayly alarmes which hee gaue.
1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera ii. xiii. 36 Cease your Funning.
1730 A. Pope Christiani Morientis in D. Lewis et al. Misc. Poems 37 Cease, fond Nature, cease thy Strife.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 127. ⁋6 Others have ceased their curiosity.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. Introd. 3 To cease, for a little while, our endeavours.
1894 Westm. Gaz. 3 May 5/1 He appealed to those present who had ceased their connexion with their Union to again join it.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 24 Apr. 3/2 This plan of ceasing the edition, after a certain number.
1907 Westm. Gaz. 24 Aug. 2/1 In the United States, where players begin and cease the game years earlier than they do here.
b. with vbl. n. as object.The verbal noun represents an earlier present participle: see 1c.
ΚΠ
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ephes. i. 16 I..ceesse not doynge thankyngis [L. non cesso gratias agens] for you.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) 34 Þei cessid neuer drinking by þe space of iij. days or iiij.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xciii. 301 Desyre of hym in my name to sease fyghtynge.
1611 Bible (King James) Num. viii. 25 From the age of fiftie yeeres they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof. View more context for this quotation
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps 215 Throughout the entire measurement the snow never ceased falling.
Categories »
c. Military. cease fire: see ceasefire n.
d. Campanology. To bring (a peal) to an end; to let (a bell) down.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > bell-ringing > [verb (transitive)] > cause bells to cease
staya1593
cease1684
1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 142 For Ceasing a Peal of Bells; Let them fall gradually from a set Peal.
1702 J. D. & C. M. Campanalogia Improved 13 The learning to Raise and Cease a Bell in Peal.
1852 B. Thackrah Art Change Ringing 8 The raising and ceasing (or settling) a bell in peal.
1901 H. E. Bulwer Gloss. Techn. Terms Bells & Ringing 33 Ceasing in order, letting the bells down together, but in regular order of striking, as in ringing ‘rounds’ or some other sequence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > cause to desist
ceasec1320
stint1338
stop1393
apausea1555
to knock off1651
surcease1791
to draw up1861
c1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 781 The grehound wolde nowt sessed be.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 391 Sesez childer of her sok, soghe hem so neuer.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 88 Ysiphile..cessed her self of her lamentacions.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxlii. 282 They wold haue done moche harme..nadde the maire..seced hem with fayre wordes.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xix. 35 When the toune clarcke had ceased the people.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus i. f. 1 Eolus..ceissit swyith the small foulis of thair sang.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. iii. 50 The..Lorde of our tranquillitie hath ceased the waues of the sea.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1330
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